Machine-sickle sharpener



Nov. 14, 1950 I I. H NTER 2,529,805

I MAcHIivE-siCKLE SHARPENER Filed March 12; 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 YWOMM,

' 29 A 4 I :1?!) TIQII."

Npv. 14, 1950 1. HUNTER 2,529,805

museum-51cm; SHARPENER Filed March 12, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A'T'T'ORNEX 7 /I 1 I r i Patented Nov. 14, 1950 MACHINE SICKLE SHARPENER Ira. Hunter, Carlisle, Ky., assignor of one-half to Ivan S. Kendall, Carlisle, Ky.

Application March 12, 1947, Serial No. 737,113

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machine-sickle sharpeners, namely; to a machine for sharpening sickles that form parts of reaping and mowing machines and the like.

The main object of this invention is to provide a machine that includes a power-unit, a sickle-holding unit, a sickle-grinding unit and a main supporting frame all combined co-operatively in a unit thatis independent of any extrinsic mechanism or means for effecting its operation.

.Another object is to provide, in a mechanism of this character, means for effecting adjustments of the sickle-holding unit toward and from the sickle-grinding unit, also means for effecting adjustments of the sickle-holding unit angularly with respect to the abrasive working face of the sickle-grinding unit, and means to clamp a machine-sickle securely in an infinite number of positions on the sickle-holding unit, so each sickle-blade or section can have its opposite cutting edges properly disposed to the grinding or abrading wheel for being properly sharpened by the latter.

Another object is to avoid alternate tightening and slackening of the'power-applying belt by mounting the power-unit or motor on one or more ,b'earing-be'ams-that are pivotally mounted and include hearings in which the sickle-grinding unit is journaled, also to utilize the weight of the motor and its supporting means to minimize vibrations of the sickle-grinding wheel, thereby to effect maximum smoothness of the ground edges of the sickle-sections or separable blades.

Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in the following details of description, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the machine, having parts of its lower portion broken out, and having a fragment of a machine-sickle clamped approximately in a proper position to have an edge of one of its separable sections sharpened by the contiguous plane working face of the grinding wheel when the latter is rotated while being-raised and lowered.

Fig. 2 is a detailed view, partly in section, showing the hollow grinding wheel, its vertically adjustable supporting means, the means for affecting its vertical adjustments, and the cooperative means to hold the grinding means with its axis in a fixed parallel relation to the axis of the motor-shaft; parts being broken out.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of the sicklesupporting frame and sickle-clamping means 2 thereon, also the horizontal position of the sicklesupporting clamp-jaw, in dot-dash lines, the vertical pivot of this frame being shown'broken off (see lower-center).

Fig. 4'is a top plan view of the machine, complete with exception of parts being broken away at right and left.

Fig. 5 is a view showing parts substantially in vertical section, taken along line -5-5 of Fig. 3 when the lower clamp-jaw is in the horizontal position; also showing parts ofits base and sub-base with pivotal connections and adjusting means; also a' sickle in the clamped 'horizontal position; 7

Fig. 6 is a view mainly in horizontal section along the line 6-6 of Fig. '7. the adjusting slide rod and its operating connections being omitted.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental detailed view of parts shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, in operative connection with a handle-lever forcooperation in moving-the sickle-supporting unit toward and away from the sickle-grinding or sharpening unit.

Fig. 8 is a detailed view showing the specific relation of the grinding wheel to the sicklesection-edge at left of 'the'vertical dot-dash 1 line alongwhich the right side of the wheel is moved by the operators manipulation of the means'that includes the handle-lever shown in Fig. 2, while the lever shown in Fig. '7 is manipulated topress the grinding-wheel against said sickle-sectionedge.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which;

similar reference-characters refer to similar said horizontal movements of said blade-supporting unit and thereby to press an elected one of the supported blades-or sickle-sections against said grinding unit II, and actuating'means (see Fig. 2) on said main frame to effect upward and downward movements of saidblade-grindingunit while it is pressed by said supported I blade. More specifically, the invention comprises, inaddition to the above defined combination, powerapplying means 23 including a rotary driving shaft 24, supporting and controlling means 25 pivotally mounted on said main frame (at lflb) and having said power-applying means 23 secured thereon in such relation that said driving shaft 24 is kept parallel with the axis of the rotary blade grinding-unit H in all adjusted positions of the latter, said actuating means Hi to 2| comprising a driving shaft l8 on which said blade-grinding unit I l is secured, said supporting and controlling means 25 comprising a bearing 25a in which said driven shaft I8 is journaled and power-transmission means 26-2'l28 operatively connecting said driving shaft 24 to said driven shaft I 8.

The invention also includes the sickle-support ing and attaching unit per se as a sub-combination of the machine, viz., a unit that supports a sickle and includes means to attach the sickle thereto and comprises a normally upright frame 29, an elongated sickle-receiving clamp-jaw 30 having its middleportion mounted on the upright frame 29 by a pivot 3| so it is adapted to be adjusted from a horizontal position to different oppositely inclined positions, abutments 32 mounted on the upright frame 29 and adapted to be adjusted upward and downward and caused to abut a ainst said clamp-jaw at opposite sides of said pivot, means 33 being provided to secure said abutments in their various adjusted positions and thereby to cooperate with said pivot to secure said clamp-jaw 30 in its various ad usted positions, a second clamp-jaw 34 pivotall mounted (at 35) on said upright frame 29 and adapted to-be swung on its'pivotal mounting so as to be pressed against elected parts of a sickle'S when the latter is seated on the sickle-receiving clamp jaw 30. and manipulative means 363l to ap ly and release pressure of the second clamp-jaw 34.

The'low r end of the upright'frame 29 is provided with a pivot I1 forconnecting it to a substantially horizontal base IS. The part Hit has a slot lfls through its top, and apertured base-plate I 6 is slidably seated on t is top portion of the main frame, over t e slot llls andthe apertured lateral projection 29p of the frame 29 is engaged with a pivotal securing means |l l'!a which is enga ed with the elements 29p and I6 and with the lower margins of the slot l Us, for thep'urpose presently explained. A screw 38 const tutes a manipulative means for cooperation with the elements I! and Ila and with the plate IE for'securing the sickle frame 29 in any of its adjusted positionson the plate 16, and to secure the plate [6 in any of its adjusted positions along the'slot IU's.

The elongated sickle-seat or lower clamp-jaw is'pivotally secured to the upright part or frame 29 of the sickle-supporting and attaching unit, and is moveable to various adiusted pos tions about its pivot 3!, and clamps 32-33 are adjustable on said upright portion for contact with the sickle-seat 3B and for cooperation with the pivot 3| for securing the sickle-seat in its different adjusted positions.

The sickle-seat has throu hout its length. channel' 390 for receiving a portion of the sickle bar Sb therein when'sickle-blade sections $8 on the sickle bar project laterally from said channel, and the sickle-blades that are being sharpened lie fiat upon a platen 30p that extends along and laterally from said channel 300 in a proper position to have its plane surface fitted against at least one of the laterally projected portions of said sickle-blade-sections while said portion of the sickle-bar is in said channel 380.

The main frame l0 comprises-an L-shaped table composed of parts IGT and lfit; also a leg or column IUC whose upper end is secured to a plate MP, and whose lower end is united with a foot or base plate liif which latter is apertured to receive bolts for securing it to a floor or sub-base, so as to secure the column HlC in upright position,

thereby support the table lllT-lfit in horizontal position. The plate [OP is welded at WW and Illw under the joint between the table-portions HIT and I at, and the upper end of the column NC is bolted or otherwise secured to the plate IOP. Two uprights mu are welded or otherwise secured at w to the upper surface of the table-portions IQT, and the bolt or pivot I010 extends through the upper ends of these uprights mu and through adjacent end portions of the beams or connecting rods 25. The front end portions 25a of the connecting rods are bearing-elements around the shaft is that carries the grinding wheel II. Between the bearings 25a, a bearing ISa is journalled on the shaft l8, and this bearing is an integral part of the verticall adjustable rod I!) which is more clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The sickle supporting and attaching unit, though shown as two primaril separate parts united by bolts 2% is not essentially of two-piece construction.

The combined elements l2, l3, l4 and I5 illustrate one convenient means for moving the frame 29 toward and from the grinding wheel II and for pressing the sickle blades 'or sections SS against the plane annular face of the wheel ll when the screw 38 is loosened slightly.

The power applying means or motor 23 may be secured to either or both connecting rods 25 that are included in the supporting and controlling means; and while one such rod 25 has been used successfully, the two here shown are more effective in supporting the motor and in cooperating with the lifting rod [9, for stabilizin the work ing position of the shaft 18 and wheel ll. 7

In operating this machine: The sickle S is first clamped to the sickle-seat 30 in a proper position to have one of its beveled edge-portions pressed against the annular surface of the wheel H as the operator pressesthe handle or lever i2 down ward-inward, or permits the handle to gravitate and hold the sickle-blade against the wheel ll while "the operator swings the lever 2i upward and downward for cooperating with the links 20 for lifting and lowering the rod !9, shaft 3 and grinding wheel M, and while the motor 23 and transmission elements 24, 26, 21, 28 and I8 cause the grinding Wheel ilto rotate against all parts of the sickle-edge being sharpened. Next, the clamp-lever 36-3l is thrown up by the operator,.

thereby loosening the clamp BIL-34 and the spring 39 holds the elements 35 and 36 in convenient positions to not interfere with moving the sickle S along the jaw-member or sickle-seat 39 to proper position for starting to sharpen another sickle-edge; such operations are repeated for each sickle-edge that needs sharpening.

I have no intention to limit my patent protec tion to the precise detail of construction and arrangement specifically described in the foregoing, for the invention is susceptible of numerous changes within the scope of the inventive ideas, as implied and claimed.

What I claim as my invention is as follows:

1. In a sickle-supporting mechanism, the combination of a normally upright frame, an elongated sickle-receiving clamp-jaw having its middle portion mounted on the upright frame by a pivot so it is adapted to be adjusted from a horizontal position to different oppositely inclined positions, abutments mounted on said upright frame and adapted to be adjusted upward and downward and caused to abut against said clampjaw at opposite sides of said pivot, means to secure said abutments in their various adjusted positions and thereby cooperate with said pivot to secure said clamp-jaw in its various adjusted positions, a second clamp-jaw pivotally mounted on said upright frame and adapted to be swung on its pivotal mounting so as to be pressed against elected parts of a sickle when the latter is seated on the sickle-receiving clamp-jaw, and manipulative means to apply and release pressure of said second clamp-jaw.

2. In the combination defined by claim 1, the lower end of said upright frame being provided with a pivot for connecting it to a substantially horizontal base.

3. In a mechanism for adjustably supporting a sickle or the like, the combination of a table having a slot through its top, a base-plate slidably seated on said table, a sickle-supporting and attaching unit including an upright frame and being seated on said base-plate for being turned about a vertical axis and having a lateral projection, pivotal securing means containing said axis and engaged with said sickle-supporting and attaching unit and base and with margins of said slot so as to permit the base-plate and sicklesupporting and attaching unit to move along said slot while securing them to the table and permit- L,

ting the sickle-attaching unit to be turned about said pivotal securing means, and manipulative means engaged with said lateral extension and adapted to effect cooperationiwith said base-plate and said pivotal means for securing said sicklesupporting and attaching unit in any one of its adjusted positions on said table.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, an elongated sickle-seat having its middle part pivotally secured on said upright and movable about its pivot so as to dispose a sickle thereon to various longitudinal inclinations in opposite directions, and means adjustable on said upright for contact with said sickle-seat and for cooperation with said pivot for securing said sickle-seat in different longitudinally inclined positions.

IRA HUNTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 75,633 Hoagland Mar. 17, 1868 758,558 Nixon Apr. 26, 1904 1,155,803 Fachman Oct. 5, 1915 1,886,717 Nobs Nov. 8, 1932 2,051,071 Borst Aug. 18, 1936 

